It is one thing not judging a book by its cover, but when it comes to fashion magazines, the image that stares back at you from the newsstand is pretty persuasive. Here is how the October issues stack up.

Perhaps it is because the sparkles have been strewn over a geeky looking model rather than across the face of a flashy celebrity. The contrast is clever.

My favourite cover of the month is an amalgamation of everything hence discussed. It is Vanity Fair, and it boasts a barely dressed Nicole Kidman (6).